2023-2024
Board of Directors and Leaders
To get where the veterinary profession needs to go, it takes a dynamic group of people leading the way. Get to know our leadership team.

Ashley I. Nichols
DVM
President
Ross University SVM
Class of 2015
Member Since 2016
Currently practices at Banfield Pet Hospital 1076

Rene A. Varela
MS, VMD, MPH
President Elect
University of Pennsylvania
Class of 2001
Member Since 2013

Elizabeth Cottrell
DVM
Secretary/Treasurer
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Class of 2008
Member since 2009
Currently at the FDA, Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Elizabeth Hepner
DVM, MPH
Immediate Past President
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 2016
Member since 2016

Andrew O’Carroll
DVM
AVMA Delegate
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 2008
Member since 2008
Currently at the Food and Drug Administration

Jennifer Krueger
DVM
AVMA Alternate Delegate
Virgina Maryland CVM
Class of 2008
Member since 2010
Currently practicing at Olney Sandy Spring Veterinary Hospital

Robert D. Silcox
DVM
Director At Large
Ross University SVM
Class of 1998
Practicing Owner of Hickory Veterinary Hospital

Rich Streett, III
DVM
Director At Large
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 2000
Member since 2001
Currently practicing at Churchville, Greenbrier, & Swan Creek Veterinary Clinics

Philip Palmer
DVM
Region 1 Delegate
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 1985
Member since 1995
Practicing Owner of Palmer Animal Hospital

Carvel G. Tiekert
DVM
Region 2 Delegate
Cornell University CVM
Class of 1963
Member since 1970
Currently practicing at Animal Care Center in Joppa

Carolyn Cornett
DVM
Region 2 Delegate
University of California Davis SVM
Class of 1992
Member since 2008
Practicing Owner of Keysville Mobile Vet Services

Monica Capella
DVM
Region 3 Delegate
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 2019
Member since 2020
Currently practicing at VCA Calvert Veterinary Center

Santiago Jimenez Gonzalez
DVM, PhD
Region 3 Delegate
National University of Colombia
Class of 2003
Member since 2018
Currently practicing at Norbeck Animal Clinic and Montgomery Animal Hospital

Megan Noyes
DVM
Region 4 Delegate
Cornell University CVM
Class of 1963
Member since 2019
Currently practicing at Waldorf Animal Clinic

Vacant
Region 5 Delegate

Tanya Tag
DVM, DACVECC
Board Certified Specialist Representative
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 2011
Member Since 2011
Practicing Medical Director at Pet+ER

James Casey
DVM, MS
Equine Representative
Tuskegee University
Class of 1988
Currently works in Laurel, MD

Matthew Weeman
DVM, MS
Food Animal Representative
The Ohio State University
Class of 2013
Member since 2016
Practicing Owner of Bayside Bovine Veterinary Services

Laura Hungerford
MPH, PhD, CPH
Government / Corporate / Academic Representative
Michigan State
Class of 1980
Member since 2001
Professor and Head, Department of Population Health Sciences and Interim Director, VT MPH Program at Virginia Maryland CVM

James Pelura, III
DVM, MS
Poultry / Avian / Exotics Representative
Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine
Class of 1981
Member since 1983
Owner of Davidsonville Veterinary Clinic

Tosha Starke
DVM
Small Animal Representative
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 2004
Member since 2019
Currently practicing at All Four Paws Vet Relief

Shannnon Skevakis
DVM
College (NV)
University of Florida CVM
Class of 2011
Member since 2019
Owner of Eternal Pawprints Veterinary Hospice

Matthew Weeman
DVM, MS
Legislative (NV)
The Ohio State University
Class of 2013
Member since 2016
Practicing Owner of Bayside Bovine Veterinary Services

Elizabeth Hepner
DVM, MPH
Membership (NV)
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 2016
Member since 2016
Currently works at Warm & Fuzzy Veterinary Center

Vacant
PAC (NV)

Ashley I. Nichols
DVM
Continuing Education (NV)
Ross University SVM
Class of 2015
Member Since 2016
Currently practices at Banfield Pet Hospital 1076

David Handel
DVM, CVA, CCRP, CTPEP
Continuing Education (NV)
Auburn University
Class of 1991
Member Since 2010
Currently practices at Kentlands Veterinary Hospital

Erin Casey
DVM
AVMA District II Representative (NV)
University of Georgia
Class of 2010
Currently at Boehringer Ingelheim

Michael Odian
DVM
Maryland State Veterinarian (NV)
Atlantic Veterinary College
Class of 1995
Maryland Department of Agriculture Animal Health Section

Carol Schwartz
VMD
Technicians Representative (NV)
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Class of 1993
Member since 1994
Director-CCBC’s Veterinary Technology Program/Veterinarian (SA, LA)

Elizabeth Callahan
DVM, DACT, DABVP, MS
State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners – Board Member (NV)
Virginia Maryland CVM
Class of 1985
Member since 2001
Currently practicing at Veterinary Medical Center

Nathaniel E. Boan
State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners – Executive Director (NV)
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
BS Psychology

Morgan Mills
Assistant Director, Government Relations
Compass Government Relations Partners
2022-2023
Dr. Elizabeth Hepner
2022-2022
Dr. David Handel
2020-2021
Dr. Shadawn Salmond-Jimenez
2019-2020
Dr. Elizabeth Cottrell
2018-2019
Dr. Rich Burgess
2017-2018
Dr. Rick Lewis
2016-2017
Dr. Rich Streett, III
2015-2016
Dr. Robert Silcox
2014-2015
Dr. Justin Sobota
2013-2014
Dr. Jan Ginsky
2012-2013
Dr. Krista Evans
2011-2012
Dr. Thomas J. Armitage
2010-2011
Dr. John Kable
2009-2010
Dr. James B. Reed
2008-2009
Dr. Jack O’Mara
2006-2007
Dr. Gregory S. Svoboda
2005-2006
Dr. Cindy Burnsteel
2004-2005
Dr. Ronald O. Schueler
2003-2004
Dr. Robert Z. Goodman
2002-2003
Dr. Perry S. Crowl
2001-2002
Dr. Fred Everhart, Jr.
2000-2001
Dr. Michael Erskine
1999-2000
Dr. Joanne Howl
1998-1999
Dr. Edward H. Stephenson
1996-1997
Dr. Jimmy Tibbs
1994-1995
Dr. Jane Brunt
1992-1993
Dr. Gary Hauptmann
1991-1992
Dr. John Brooks
1988-1989
Dr. Ed Jendrek
1987-1988
Dr. James McClellan
1986-1987
Dr. Mike Radebaugh
1983-1984
Dr. Gerald TePaske
1982-1983
Dr. Carvel Tiekert
1979-1980
Dr. Bob Batchelor
1978-1979
Dr. Gary Roop
1972-1973
Dr. Cleve Brown